Is your posture limiting your potential?

For those of you already training with Lifestyle Improvers you will already be aware of some of our postural correction exercise techniques. For others, perhaps you are unaware of the limiting potential of poor posture on your everyday movements?

Whenever we start a new client at Lifestyle Improvers we always like to assess their posture at the earliest possible point in their exercise journey. Regardless of a client’s goals, be they weight loss, improved sporting performance or injury rehabilitation, the intensity of our training programs will progressively challenge them and when a system is challenged it is the weakest link(s) that will falter first. Often that weakest link can be attributed to a basic postural deficiency.

Often with a new client, they come to us all motivated, excited and wanting to get straight into complex weight bearing exercises when they are obviously not quite ready for it yet. This initial phase is the most important and requires some patience! I can compare it to building a house in that clearing the block, levelling the ground and laying the foundation is the most important part. But when it’s your house and you’re waiting for it to be built you just can’t wait to see the bricks go up and the roof go on!

According to Kendall (2005), ‘good posture’ is a composite of the positions of all the joints of the body at any given moment, both statically and dynamically, involving a minimal amount of stress and strain, resulting in maximal efficiency to the body. Of course our bodies are subject to many and varied internal and external forces and it is these forces that often create postural problems and possibly lead to injuries in later life. Genetics also play a part as do past and current work environments particularly those that involve long periods of sitting.



In our role at Lifestyle Improvers, as Fitness Professionals, it is not our position to diagnose injury and with any obvious or seriously debilitating condition we would always seek the advice of an allied Health Professional such as a Doctor, Chiropractor or Physiotherapist before pursuing a corrective exercise pathway. However, having a good understanding of the correlations between posture, function, pathology and pain will help us plan the correct training program for you and ensure you ultimately reach your potential.

As a special offer to our readers, mention this article and receive a free posture and lifestyle check by Lifestyle Improvers.